Silver coins are possibly the oldest mass-produced form of coinage dating back to ancient civilisations such as the Greeks and Persians. But by 1947, as post-war Britain continued to suffer austerity measures, they were replaced by cheaper cupro-nickel. Many factors determine the value of a silver coin, such as its rarity, demand, condition and limited edition status. Today, collectables like the Morgan Dollar from The US Mint and the popular bullion coins from countries like Canada and China remain popular among collectors and investors. Like gold, this precious metal has seen a significant rise in value over the last decade and many of the world’s leading mints are keen to continue striking these coins in vast quantities in order to make the most of the growing demand.

Silver coins UK are ranked according to their purity: 925/1000 is Sterling Silver, 958/1000 is known as ‘Britannia’ and 999/1000 as Fine. In 2013, Britain’s flagship coin, Britannia which had been struck in 958/1000 for the last 25 years, was for the first time ever minted in 999/1000. This unprecedented and historic change of specification brought Britannia in line with the trademark standard of other famous bullion coins struck in this precious metal – these included iconic issues such as the 1oz Eagle from The US Mint, the 1oz Kangaroo from The Royal Australian Mint and 1oz Maple Leaf from The Royal Canadian Mint. The powerful image of Britannia had appeared on coinage dating back to the Romans but this increase also confirmed her place as Britain’s purest silver coin.

Silver has in fact increased just as dramatically as gold over the last decade or so. Due to this unprecedented rise, many collectors and investors have been keen to buy silver coins as an affordable way to take advantage of this precious metal boom. Meanwhile, the world’s leading mints are also keen to capitalise on the overwhelming demand for these types of coins. For example, The Royal Canadian Mint has been issuing its popular $20 coins since 2011. Featuring an important part of Canadian life such as the maple leaf or the polar bear on the reverse, every coin issued as part of this successful series has sold out in a matter of weeks, despite a worldwide mintage of between 200,000 and 250,000 per coin.

A recent discovery of 200 silver coins, 15 silver ingots and 7 items of jewellery however, may help us to understand the relationship between these two leaders and uncover the hidden truths that lie beneath this fascinating period in ancient history.